LEINSTER SAY OUT-half Johnny Sexton is aiming for a return in the early rounds of the Guinness Pro12 season, as his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery at the end of last season.

Leo Cullen’s side are facing the prospect of beginning the season without a host of their star names.

31-year-old Sexton missed Ireland’s tour of South Africa after sustaining a shoulder injury during Leinster’s Pro12 final defeat to Connacht.

Sean O’Brien was another to miss Ireland’s trip to face the Boks, and Leinster say he is “progressing well” after surgery at the end of last season, although there is no definitive date for his return to play.

Cian Healy is also set to miss the start of the new season, having only taken part in his first on-field session of the summer yesterday. The loosehead prop has “recovered well” from neck and knee issues, according to the province.

Ireland international Rhys Ruddock will not be available until round four of the Pro12, due to his ongoing recovery from ankle surgery, while hooker Richardt Strauss is due to see a consultant this week regarding a knee issue.

Ireland wing Dave Kearney continues to suffer with an AC joint strain, but is “nearing a return to play.”

Prop Ed Byrne, who has been injured for the last 12 months due to a worrying knee issue, is “making steady progress,” but Leinster have no definitive date for any return.

More positively, Leinster say Mike McCarthy has passed all the return-to-play concussion protocols and and has taken a full part in pre-season. He is set to feature in the friendly against Bath in two weekends’ time.

Centre Noel Reid is also targeting that fixture as his recovers from a mid-foot strain, while fullback Rob Kearney is now training fully after his hamstring issues cleared.

Captain Isa Nacewa is “very close” to returning as the arm injury he sustained last season begins to clear, with Leinster managing his contact load.

So more Englishmen coming into Irish rugby. They are getting a head start on the expected mass exodus across the Irish Sea due to Brexit. Feck - In 20 years or so this place could be just like England. Lots of English TV, English newspapers, People supporting English sports teams...........Hmmmm no difference then except a quadrupling or more of our population.

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.

Shan wrote:So more Englishmen coming into Irish rugby. They are getting a head start on the expected mass exodus across the Irish Sea due to Brexit. Feck - In 20 years or so this place could be just like England. Lots of English TV, English newspapers, People supporting English sports teams...........Hmmmm no difference then except a quadrupling or more of our population.

Nucifora will soon start chucking them out

“That made me feel very special and underlined to me that Ulster is more than a team, it is a community and a rugby family"Rory Best

Shan wrote:So more Englishmen coming into Irish rugby. They are getting a head start on the expected mass exodus across the Irish Sea due to Brexit. Feck - In 20 years or so this place could be just like England. Lots of English TV, English newspapers, People supporting English sports teams...........Hmmmm no difference then except a quadrupling or more of our population.

Shan wrote:So more Englishmen coming into Irish rugby. They are getting a head start on the expected mass exodus across the Irish Sea due to Brexit. Feck - In 20 years or so this place could be just like England. Lots of English TV, English newspapers, People supporting English sports teams...........Hmmmm no difference then except a quadrupling or more of our population.

There are more people in the UK eligible for an Irish passport than the current population of Ireland but you'll be thankful to hear the population wouldn't quadruple... it would more than double however.

Shan wrote:So more Englishmen coming into Irish rugby. They are getting a head start on the expected mass exodus across the Irish Sea due to Brexit. Feck - In 20 years or so this place could be just like England. Lots of English TV, English newspapers, People supporting English sports teams...........Hmmmm no difference then except a quadrupling or more of our population.